8 December 2024

Sunday 8th December 2024

Second Sunday in Advent and Toy Service

Preacher 10:30:  Rev Dr Mark Jason

Steward: Kath Bridges 

The flowers this week are donated by Sharon and Margaret

and arranged by Sharon

Dates for your diary w/c Sunday 8th December

Mon Dec 9th      09:00-11:00 Parents & Carers

                                13:5-15:15 Taiji Qigong

                         8:15-19:45. Rainbows, Brownies

Tue Dec 10th              9:00 Sch. Worship in Ch. Margaret

                                10:00- 14.30 Child Minders                                                       

Wed Dec 11th                10:00- 14.30 Child Minders

Thu. Dec 12th          19:30 Blackburn /District Cyclists

                                19:30. Men’s Fellowship                                                                     

Fri Dec 13th       19:30-22:00. Acc. Camera Club

Dates for your diary w/c Sunday 15th December

Sun  Dec 15th.        10:00- 12:00. Sunday Club Practice

Mon Dec 16th    09:00-11:00 Parents & Carers

                                13:5-15:15 Taiji Qigong

                         8:30. Carol Singing & Pot Pie supper

Tue Dec 17th             10:00- 14.30 Child Minders

Wed Dec 18th            14:00 – 17:00 Film & Aft Tea

Thu. Dec 19th         09:00. Sch. Worship in Ch. Mark

                               10:30 – 16:00 Child Minders

                               19:30 Blackburn /District Cyclists

Fri.  Dec 20th              19:30-22:00. Acc. Camera Club

                                 Rishton Methodist school close.        

Christmas services and events 2024

Sun 8th Dec  10.30am Toy service.  The toys this year will be donated to Trinity    

                            Charity shop who hope to be able to support less well-off families.

                        16:00 Rishton Lights switch on and

                            crib blessing by the Rishton library.

Sun 15th Dec   NO MORNING SERVICE. At Rishton

                         10:00 Sunday Club Nativity Practice

                          2.00pm Christmas Celebration  service    

                          with the band, based on favourite

                          carols.   Followed by refreshments.  

Mon 16th Dec    Carol Singing 6.30pm

                        Followed by potato pie supper

Sun 22nd Dec.  NO MORNING SERVICE

                       4.00pm Carols & Nativity Service at Rishton 

                                (Festive Christmas and Cake stall        

                                  organised by Sunday Club)

Tues 24th Dec.       6.00pm    Circuit Christmas Eve

                                Communion service at Trinity

Wed 25th Dec.       10.30am   Circuit service at Rishton

Sun 29th Dec.        10.30am   Circuit service at Trinity

Sunday 29th Dec. from 12.30pm - 2.30pm.

Sunday Club hosting Christmas Film, Pizza and popcorn afternoon.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE CAROL? 

 We are holding another "Christmas celebration service with the band" on Sunday 15th December at 2.00pm, which will be followed by tea/coffee and cakes.  We would like to base the service on favourite carols, but we need your response as soon as possible.

 Please write your name and details of the carol you have chosen on a paper, and add a contact number if possible, in case there is a query regarding a specific tune or anything else.  If you have a special reason for preferring this carol, could you give a very brief explanation, otherwise, if you just like it, then that is as good a reason as any other!  Then please give your paper to any steward.  The band would be very grateful to have the details as soon as possible, so that a decision regarding the order of service can be made.

Thank you,  Madeleine

Postage stamps.     

Used Postage stamps.  Now is the time that we are receiving Christmas cards through the post, so please save your stamps, (leave a generous paper border around the stamp), and put them in the box on the foyer table.  They will be given to the East Lancashire Hospice, who can exchange them for cash.  Thank you.

Men’s Fellowship

Our next meeting will be our Christmas edition at 7.30 pm on Thursday 12th December

New members welcome.  

Geoff

Mince pies for 15th and 22nd Dec.

A request from the stewards for donations of mince pies or cake for after the carol service on the 15th Dec and mince pies for the 22nd for after the nativity. Many thanks!

The AfternoonTea and Film at 2pm on 18th December will be “Christmas at Downton Abbey”

Eco Christmas card greetings

As we did last year, as well as the usual Post Box being available, the Mobile Notice Board will be available for Communal Christmas Greeting Cards to all in our Church Family, for those who would like to do this rather than sending individual cards.

Cards from the post box will be delivered by our post delivery people as usual, to Rishton addresses, for those who still want to send individual cards to folk in our community.

Donations will be appreciated and will go to the Benevolent Fund.

Carol singing in the Rishton Streets

This will take place on Monday 16th December, leaving the church at 6.30pm. This is an open invitation to anyone, of any age who is interested in joining the event, but children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. The brass band will lead the singing as the group walks around an area between the church and Eachill Gardens, before returning to the church for a potato pie supper.  There is no charge, but donations towards the cost would be appreciated. Thank you, 

The stewards.

 Closing date for notices

It would be helpful if all notices for Sunday 15th December could be in by the evening of Wednesday 11th December. Please send them to: steveruth.colling@gmail.com 07958 036736 or tunstallsharon2@gmail.com mobile 07930930514.

BLUE CHRISTMAS:

A Service of Remembrance and Hope

AT Gt Harwood

TRINITY URC & METHODIST CHURCH,

King Street, Great Harwood, BB6 7JN

Saturday 21st December 4pm

Christmas time is a difficult time for those whose hearts are hurting.

A Blue Christmas service is especially for those who find the festivity and celebration of this time of the year difficult to cope with.

It is an ‘alternative’ Christmas service- a quiet, reflective service for those who are carrying pain or loss during this season of celebration but seeking strength from the central promise of Christmas, that in Christ Jesus, God is with Us.

If you would like a loved one to be remembered by name during the service, please contact Revd. Mark by 7pm on Tuesday 19th December on:

mark.jason@methodist.org.uk or 07305 805930

Preacher 15th December

The preacher on Sunday 15th December at 14:00 will be: Stephen Colling.  Steward:  Lesleyanne Goulding 

This will be a Christmas celebration service with the band.

AND FINALLY..    Spotted in th'Observer  ! 

An Oswaldtwistle newsagent is  being taken to Court for selling boxes of out of date Irish Cream Liqueurs..His trial is to be set at The Old Baileys...

Advent liturgy (See below)

This will be introduced at the beginning of each service in Lent.  Each Sunday, one verse will be sung from StF 165. “Advent candles tell their story”.

Sunday December 8th December. Peace.

Today we light a candle of peace. Not just the kind of peace built on avoiding the real issues or ignoring the conflict in the world but in the name of real peace.

As we light the candles we take a moment to think of those places and situations where hatred and anger, war and troubles, replace the peace that’s needed.

Light two candles and be quiet for a moment

Remind us all that in advent we think of that peace of God which is beyond our understanding. A rich deep peace, that starts within us through our love for God.

Response – Lord we come to you reminded of that special peace you offer. Teach us to be channels of that peace so that all may feel your presence this advent season. Amen

We now sing verse 2 from Hymn 165 “Advent candles tell their story.”

Prophet voices loudly crying,

making pathways clear,

glimpsing glory, self-denying,

calling all to hear.

Through their message – challenged, shaken-

hearts awaken:

God is near!